They ship.

Wow.

Pan-Seared Sea Bass in Clam Stew, Black Rice, and Tomato Salsa

For those of you in the area, you know what I’m talking about. For those of you visiting, this is one of the absolutely must-stops. Rooted in southern cuisine, owner and chef Amy Tournquist uses the freshest, local ingredients to create perfect dishes.

Best Pimento...ever.

Creative, classic, perfectly seasoned. When folks from out of town ask me which is the one restaurant they should try. It’s Watt’s. Now to get them to open earlier for Sunday brunch….

Especially for those late nights…or rather, early dinner before a night spent at the blackjack tables, great food tapas-style is the best way to fill up with deliciousness rather than overstuff with mediocrity.

Pretty much everything is amazing, their made-from-scratch crostada and soups and sausage biscuits But you really can’t come leave without a slice or two of yheir chess pie…chocolate chess, lavender chess, lemon chess…Come early – it gets packed and things get sold out fast!

LoMo Market travels in a truck pulling a refrigerated trailer, making established stops in various neighborhoods around the Research Triangle in North Carolina.

Open up the trailer and it’s a full on-store. It partners with local farmers and producers, helping to expand the reach of small family producers and make it more convenient for people to get fresh foods.

You won’t find your Ho-Hos here. Only fresh, organic foods. The trailer is lined with fresh produce, fruit, jams, packages of ground grits and pancake mix, hot sauce, preserves, eggs, fish, and even flowers.

Each item is marked with the farm from which it originated, so you know exactly where it is from.

A wonderful bonus for me (not only is it in my neighborhood – check out their site to see if they are coming to you and if not, make a request!) is that they also carry Spread Cheeze. As some of you know, I have limited my intake of dairy, become a full convert to almond milk, and now found this wonderful cheese made of almonds and cashews. I have tried ones in stores and never liked them. They tasted…like cardboard. Spread, locally-owned, was started by a woman who just wanted a good-tasting non-dairy cheese. Warning: it’s addictive.

Welcome to the neighborhood, LoMo! Hope this takes off across the country.

Another wonderful new Durham food truck (Durham is popping with great ones!), Sympathy for the Deli, serving up deli sandwiches with locally-sourced, hand-cured meats, like this great French Dip. Although I love sandwiches, I don’t always go out for them – or make them – not sure why, but this is one stop I’d make an exception. Flavorful, simple – that’s what happens when you know where your food is coming from!

And boy, is this food worth something!

Berenbaum’s always a wonderful assortment of breads, pastries, treats – and features This & That Jam, which will also be at BCFE. For example, this weekend, they featured two stunning treats. This chili-cheese-quiche tart was one of the most incredible things I’ve had. Subtle heat with a crust so buttery and flaky, I stopped breathing for just one moment.

Finishing off with a sweet peach tart, and all was good with the world.

The guy in front of me dropped a few coins, and I thought, really? Those better be $1 coins! Come get a taste, and see what you think it’s worth. For me, it was worth every bite.

Great new Durham foodtruck: American Meltdown with gourmet grilled cheese. From grilled cheeses with figs to basil pesto to Pimiento cheese, this is a must follow!

They source as locally as possible, and the bread to cheese ratio is perfect, as is the delicate sizzle of that toast. Flavors sing, and so did I (well, not really, you don’t want me singing, I guarantee you).

I have to admit that I failed at a few of these! Check out their whole site as it is packed with useful information.

Try it yourself.